Bearcats Reclaim the Victory Bell with a 27-16 Win over Miami
Bearcats Reclaim the Victory Bell with a 27-16 Win over Miami
OXFORD, Ohio — The Victory Bell is back in Cincinnati. The Bearcats avenged last season's overtime defeat by taking down the Miami RedHawks 27-16 on Saturday in the 128th Battle of the Victory Bell. The win pushed Cincinnati ahead in the historic rivalry, breaking the all-time record tie and giving the Bearcats a 61-60-7 edge.
Cincinnati got on the board early thanks to a booming 55-yard field goal from kicker Nathan Hawks, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon. Miami responded with an 8-play, 63-yard drive that culminated in a field goal at the 14:13 mark of the second quarter, bringing the score to 3-3.
Momentum swung decisively in the Bearcats’ favor when they capitalized on a Miami punter's fumble, with quarterback Brendan Sorsby connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joe Royer for a 10-3 lead.
Coming out of halftime, Cincinnati's offense continued to churn. A methodical 75-yard drive in 12 plays highlighted Sorsby's efficiency on third and fourth down, capped by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from running back Corey Kiner. That score extended Cincinnati's lead to 17-3.
Miami didn’t back down, however. Quarterback Brett Gabbert fired a 58-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Reggie Virgil, pulling the RedHawks within seven at 17-10 late in the third quarter.
The Bearcats' ground game took over from there. After managing just 43 rushing yards in the first half, Cincinnati exploded for 215 rushing yards in total. Running back Evan Pryor's electric 65-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter stretched Cincinnati’s lead to 24-10. It was Pryor's second rushing touchdown of more than 60 yards this season.
Miami tried to claw back, with Gabbert finding Cade McDonald for a 7-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 24-16 after a failed two-point conversion attempt. Gabbert hit McDonald again for a 51-yard gain, but the RedHawks couldn’t capitalize as the Bearcats' defense stood firm.
Corey Kiner put the game out of reach with a pivotal 40-yard burst on third-and-one, leading to a 50-yard field goal that sealed the 27-16 victory. Kiner had a standout performance with 126 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, surpassing 2,000 career rushing yards in the process.
Sorsby finished 21-of-34 for 186 yards, while fifth-year receiver Xzavier Henderson was his go-to target, hauling in 10 receptions for 108 yards. The Bearcats dominated the ground game, out-rushing Miami 215-24.
Defensively, Cincinnati’s pass rush caused havoc, with hometown hero Eric Phillips notching two of the Bearcats’ three sacks. The defensive front repeatedly pressured Gabbert, helping to secure the Bearcats' first win of the season over a key rival.
With the Victory Bell in hand, Cincinnati turns its focus to Big 12 conference play next week as they take on the Houston Cougars at Nippert Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon. Meanwhile, Miami (Ohio) will have a daunting task on the road, facing No. 18 Notre Dame.